EMPOWERING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT

1. EMPOWERING THE SPECIAL EDUCATION STUDENT Ms. Ramirez Special Education Teacher Eleanor Roosevelt Intermediate School #143 JRamirez11@schools.nyc.gov

2. *THE PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST* (PPA)

3. *WHAT IS SPECIAL EDUCATION?* • Special Education is governed by federal law in most educational jurisdictions. Under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Special Education is defined as: "Specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.“

4. *What are some examples of disabilities?*

5. *WHAT IS AN “IEP”?* • IEP stands for… Individualized Education Program • An IEP is a legal document which documents eligibility for special education services. • An IEP also formalizes in writing the plan for how the school will provide a Free Appropriate Public Education in the least restrictive environment.

6. Ensures a strategic and coordinated approach to address each student’s unique needs related to his/her disability. Guides the provision of specially designed instruction. Supports the student’s participation and progress in the general education curriculum. Prepares the student for post-secondary learning and adult living. Identifies how resources need to be configured to meet the needs of its students with disabilities. Provides information on the effectiveness of the district’s special education programs and services. *THE IEP is the Foundation of the Special Education Process*

7. *WHICH EQUATION IS TRUE?* ANSWER A • IEP + NO WORK=FREE PASS ANSWER B • Believe in Yourself  + IEP + WORK= PROMOTION

8. *THE CORRECT ANSWER IS* B IF YOU, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF and YOU ALSO HAVE AN IEP and YOU COMPLETE YOUR CLASS WORK & HOMEWORK and YOU ATTEND SCHOOL REGULARLY, and YOU DO YOUR BEST on STANDARDIZED TESTS- THEN YOU WILL BE PROMOTED TO THE NEXT GRADE.

9. THE PROBLEM: In a survey conducted in an Integrated Co-Teaching Class, 10 out of 12 students with disabilities BELIEVE that having an IEP is a “FREE PASS” to do NO WORK.

10. *IDENTIFYING THE CAUSES* • Access • Students are not familiar with their rights • Time • Lack of importance

11. *EXAMINING THE EXISTING POLICY* • Annual Review Meeting • Triennial (an evaluation is mandated every 3 years) • Re-evaluation • All teachers, related service providers, parents, and students have access to IEPs.

12. *DEVELOPING SOLUTIONS* • Students will NOW list possible solutions to understanding the importance and meaning behind their own IEP.

13. 5 MILLION KIDS!!! DO YOU KNOW WHO THIS POWERFUL STUDENT IS?

14. Full text of Dalton Sherman’s speech to Dallas Independent School District teachers, August 20, 2008 I believe in me. Do you believe in me? Do you believe I can stand up here, fearless, and talk to all 20,000 of you? Hey, Charles Rice Learning Center – do you believe in me? That’s right – they do. Because here’s the deal: I can do anything, be anything, create anything, dream anything, become anything – because you believe in me. And it rubs off on me. Let me ask you a question, Dallas ISD. Do you believe in my classmates? Do you believe that every single one of us can graduate ready for college or the workplace? You better. Because next week, we’re all showing up in your schools – all 157,000 of us – and what we need from you is to believe that we can reach our highest potential. No matter where we come from, whether it’s sunny South Dallas, whether its Pleasant Grove, whether its Oak Cliff or North Dallas or West Dallas or wherever, you better not give up on us. No, you better not. Because, as you know, in some cases, you’re all we’ve got. You’re the ones who feed us, who wipe our tears, who hold our hands or hug us when we need it. You’re the ones who love us when sometimes it feels like no else does – and when we need it the most. Don’t give up on my classmates. Do you believe in your colleagues? I hope so. They came to your school because they wanted to make a difference, too. Believe in them, trust them and lean on them when times get tough – and we all know, we kids can sometimes make it tough. Am I right? Can I get an Amen? So, whether you’re a counselor or a librarian, a teacher assistant or work in the front office, whether you serve up meals in the cafeteria or keep the halls clean, or whether you’re a teacher or a principal, we need you! Please, believe in your colleagues, and they’ll believe in you. Do you believe in yourself? Do you believe that what you’re doing is shaping not just my generation, but that of my children – and my children’s children? There’s probably easier ways to make a living, but I want to tell you, on behalf of all of the students in Dallas, we need you. We need you now more than ever. Believe in yourself. Finally, do you believe that every child in Dallas needs to be ready for college or the workplace? Do you believe that Dallas students can achieve? We need you, ladies and gentlemen. We need you to know that what you are doing is the most important job in the city today. We need you to believe in us, in your colleagues, in yourselves and in our goals. If you don’t believe – well, I’m not going there. I want to thank you for what you do – for me and for so many others. Do you believe in me? Because, I believe in me. And you helped me get to where I am today. Thank you.